Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cocoajelly]

I have started looking at airfares From Australia to Korea and the cheapest that I have found is with Malaysian Airlines for AUD $705.00. ( Adelaide - Kuala lumpur - Incheon. You fly out of australia at 3:30 pm arrive in KL around 8:05pm and then leave at 11:30pm for a 6:05am arrival in Incheon)

Has anyone else found any tickets that are cheaper.

*** The time table is the same if you were leaving from any other australian city***

Where is everyone else flying from?

[fungrel]

The contract that i signed originally said it would pay for a direct flight only. So if you are offered a contract be sure to check the airfare part.
I've flown Asiana and Korean Air, both of these leave Sydney around 8-9am. By far, Asiana is better, and cheaper. You can also book flights through Qantas website, they codeshare but are marginally higher.

[cocoajelly]

Will you be working for a Hogwon or EPIK / GEPIK?

[fungrel]

I was recruited by a company in Australia for a public school, and signed a contract with Chungbuk Education Office directly. So there was no EPIK orientation... just hit the ground running.
Have you signed a contract yet? public or private?

[cocoajelly]

I'm with EPIK and the contract is on it's way. I'll be teaching somewhere in Gangwon do. Where are you from in AUS? Are you in korea or are you starting in Feb/ March?

How did you go with your visa? Did you have to go to Canberra?

[ttompatz]

Do yourself a BIG FAVOR and do NOT book your tickets before you have your NOA in hand (better yet, not till you have your visa in your passport).

I can't count the number of times I have seen threads or received PMs like:

HELP - My flight is tomorrow, the discount tickets are non-refundable and my visa won't be ready till next week. WHAT CAN I DO?

HELP - I booked my flight and I never received a NOA. Can I do the visa thing in Korea or am I screwed?

.

[cocoajelly]

I'm not booking my flight until I have the visa in the passport. I was just looking to see how much it costs to fly to Korea from Down Under and what are my best options with various airlines.

[hanams]

I will be working with GEPIK and flying out from Sydney to Incheon with Asiana which is a direct flight for $882 (Depart Sydney 10am arrive same day 7pm). My friend who will also work for GEPIK is flying out from Sydney to Incheon with Korean Air for $825, also a direct flight (Pretty much same flight details).
I've found (and from the research of my recruiter Malaysian air is the cheapest but as you wrote it is not a direct flight).

[tottenhamtaipeinick]

I fly with mainly Eva Air or China Airlines from Australia to Asia. Mainly because I love going back to Taipei and their service has also been close to perfect. Though I am sure ppl flying to Korea probably dont want to hear chinese the whole flight since everyone seems to be chinese.

But for the money I would cut out going to KL and fly with Eva and a Stop over to Taipei for me was $800 from Brisbane. I still laugh because of the relations with SK and NK it is cheaper to fly from Brisbane-Taipei-Seoul then Brisbane-Taipei.

I will be flying to Seoul end of March though will probably end up flying out of Sydney.

[chris_J2]

I also use China Airlines of Taiwan (do not confuse with Air China which is mainland China). You overnight in Taipei, in a golf resort hotel owned by the airline, get a hot meal, shower & sleep, before leaving about 6:30 am for the airport for the short morning flight to Seoul. You arrive refreshed & not looking dishevelled. Not sure if they have flights from Adelaide. Definitely Brisbane & probably Sydney & Melbourne too? Try a flight route map search.

[cocoajelly]

Thanks for the info. I never thought of flying via Taipei.

I had a look last night and the cheapest flight that I found were with China Eastern and Hainan Airlines. After reading reviews about the airlines I decided that it would be safer to swim to Seoul than fly with them.

I was on the Phone with Qantas last night to see if I can use my points. They can get me to Seoul from Adelaide with Cathay Pacific. The only problem is that they only allow 23Kg in checked baggage. Every kilo after that will cost me $35.00.

23 KILOS IS NOTHING. HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO FIT EVERYTHING WITHIN THAT LIMIT????????????????????????

[tanklor1]

[chris_J2]

I paid 7 x $25 per excess kilo in April 2009 ($175). So when you get to the airport you will pay $35 for each additional kilo over the 23 kg limit. Try to reduce weight as much as possible & buy some of the heavier stuff in Korea. It's often cheaper than Australia. You get 300k won within a few days in most contracts to purchase items like electric jugs, cutlery, plates etc.

[tanklor1]

[chris_J2]

OP quotes: "I'm with EPIK"

So they WILL get the 300k won as part of their contract.